This paper contends that the intractability of food insecurity as a social policy issue may have arisen in part because food access has become central to the interpretation of what is required to be food secure. We revisit key features of the evolution of the right to food and examine developments in the instruments used to monitor right to food progress. We articulate how the materiality of food access has come to the forefront of food systems policy, within which food insecurity is embedded but its structural underpinnings are lost. In turn, civil society food-based responses to growing food insecurity prevalence prevail. The pre-eminence of objectified food access as a socio-political orientation to food insecurity has refabricated the social problem of food need. A conscious uncoupling of food access from how we study and respond to food insecurity is needed to re-design food insecurity policy that is grounded in poverty alleviation.

Aims: Psychosis is a severe mental health condition characterised by a loss of contact with reality, often manifesting in symptoms such as paranoid delusions and hallucinations. Research has shown that the prevalence of psychosis is significantly higher among individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds compared with White Britons in the UK. Additionally, people from these backgrounds tend to experience more discrimination and identity-related challenges than their White counterparts. However, few studies have explored how discrimination and ethnic identity intersect to influence psychosis rates.

This study aims to examine the relationship between discrimination and paranoia in ethnic minority populations, exploring whether ethnic identity may help protect individuals from the negative impact of discrimination on psychosis. It is hypothesised that people from ethnic minority backgrounds will face more discrimination and exhibit more severe symptoms of paranoia compared with White Britons, with the relationship between ethnicity and paranoia being mediated by discrimination. Furthermore, it is predicted that the association between discrimination and paranoia will be moderated by social identity, such that higher social identification will attenuate the positive association between discrimination and paranoia.

Methods: The study involved a secondary analysis of two cross-sectional datasets, including African and African Caribbean participants (N=355) and a student sample (N=1747), using validated measures of paranoia, psychosis symptoms (paranoia, dissociation, and hallucinations), discrimination, and ethnic identity.

Results: A moderated multiple regression indicated that the positive association between discrimination and paranoia was moderated by social identity, such that the effect was weaker and non-significant when people had stronger identities. We further found that discrimination mediated the effect of ethnicity (ethnic majority vs ethnic minority) on paranoia.

Conclusion: Strong social identities buffered ethnic minority people from the negative effects of discrimination on paranoia symptoms. Further, the higher rates of paranoia observed among ethnic minority participants may be explained by their more severe experiences of discrimination.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a severe neurodegenerative disorder characterized by prominent motor and non-motor (e.g., cognitive) abnormalities. Notwithstanding Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatments (e.g., L-dopa), most persons with PD do not adequately benefit from the FDA-approved treatments and treatment emergent adverse events are often reasons for discontinuation. To date, no current therapy for PD is disease modifying or curative. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are central nervous system (CNS) penetrant and have shown to be neuroprotective against oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and insulin resistance, as well as promoting neuroplasticity. Preclinical evidence suggests that GLP-1RAs also attenuate the accumulation of α-synuclein. The cellular and molecular effects of GLP-1RAs provide a basis to hypothesize putative therapeutic benefit in individuals with PD. Extant preclinical and clinical trial evidence in PD provide preliminary evidence of clinically meaningful benefit in the cardinal features of PD. Herein, we synthesize extant preclinical and early-phase clinical evidence, suggesting that GLP-1RAs may be beneficial as a treatment and/or illness progression modification therapeutic in PD.

Suicide accounts for over 700,000 deaths per year globally and remains a public health priority. Evidence suggests that sleep-related interventions may be effective in reducing depressive symptom severity and suicidal thoughts in patients diagnosed with depression and comorbid insomnia. This study aims to systematically review the efficacy of sedative-hypnotics and/or cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) on measures of suicidality.

In accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched from inception to July 30, 2024. Studies were included if they (1) were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and (2) reported on suicide-related measures associated with sleep interventions as a primary outcome, secondary outcome, or a safety measure. We endeavored to define and operationalize suicidality as suicidal ideation (SI), suicide attempts (SA), and suicide completion (SC). In cases where study authors failed to separate these three dimensions, the term “suicidality” was applied.

Eighteen studies were identified meeting inclusion criteria, comprised of studies investigating benzodiazepines (n = 2), Z-drugs (n=4), orexin receptor antagonists (ORAs) (n=8), and CBT-I (n=4). Zolpidem reduces SI as well as insomnia (linear association = 0.12, p<0.05) as evidenced by improvement on both the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) and the Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI). ORAs were not associated with either an increase or decrease in suicidality. CBT-I alleviates SI in patients with insomnia (t = −3.35, p<0.05).

Effectively treating insomnia is associated with reduced SI. Available evidence suggests that Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved sedative-hypnotics do not increase the risk of suicidality.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a serious and often chronic illness that requires early and urgent treatment. Failing to provide effective treatment of MDD can worsen the illness trajectory, negatively impact physical health, and even alter brain structure. Early optimized treatment (EOT) of MDD, with a measurement-based approach to diagnosis, rapid treatment initiation with medication dosage optimization, frequent monitoring, and prompt adjustments in treatment planning when indicated, should proceed with a sense of urgency. In this article, we describe common barriers to providing an EOT approach to treating MDD at each phase of care, along with strategies for navigating these obstacles. Approaching the treatment of MDD with a greater sense of urgency increases the likelihood of symptom reduction in MDD, facilitating full functional recovery and a return to life engagement.

Objectives/Goals: Substantial evidence supports the use of community engagement in CTS. Yet, there is a lack of empirical basis for recommending a particular level of community engagement over others. We aimed to identify associations between level of community involvement and study process outcomes, focusing on procedures to promote enrollment and inclusion. Methods/Study Population: Using manifest content analysis, we analyzed community engagement (CEn) strategies of studies indexed in ClinicalTrials.gov, focusing on studies 1) associated with 20 medical schools located in 8 southern states in the Black Belt, 2) conducted in 2015–2019, and 3) on 7 topics: cancer, depression, anxiety, hypertension, substance use disorder, cardiovascular disease, and HIV/AIDS. Data source was the ClinicalTrials.gov entry and publication for each study. We categorized each study on level of community involvement as described by the study protocol CTSA Consortium Community Engagement Key Function Committee Task Force on the Principles of Community Engagement continuum. Outcomes included recruitment and representativeness. Other codes included funder type, study phase, study status, and time to enrollment. Results/Anticipated Results: Of 890 studies that met inclusion criteria, only 493 had published findings. 286 studies (58%) met enrollment targets. Only 9 studies described any level of CEn (1 outreach, 3 consult, 1 involvement, 3 collaboration, and 1 shared leadership). Time to enrollment for these 9 studies (mean 28.78 mos.) was shorter than for studies without CEn (mean 37.43 months) (n.s.). CEn studies reached significantly higher enrollment (CEn mean  = 2395.11, non-CEn mean  = 463.93), p Discussion/Significance of Impact: Results demonstrate the substantial effect of CEn on enrollment and inclusion in clinical studies. However, the infinitesimal number of studies that reported CEn did not allow comparisons of level of engagement on the outcomes. Findings highlight ethical questions surrounding the lack of publishing incomplete studies.

Estimating the population size of shy and elusive species is challenging but necessary to inform appropriate conservation actions for threatened or declining species. Using camera-trap surveys conducted during 2017–2021, we estimated and compared African clawless otter Aonyx capensis population densities and activity times in six conserved areas in southern Africa. We used two different models to estimate densities: random encounter models and camera-trap distance sampling. Our results highlight a general pattern of higher estimated densities and narrower confidence intervals using random encounter models compared to camera-trap distance sampling. We found substantial variation in densities between study areas, with random encounter model estimates ranging between 0.9 and 4.2 otters/km2. Our camera-trap distance sampling estimates supported the relative density estimates obtained from random encounter models but were generally lower and more variable, ranging from 0.8 to 4.0 otters/km2. We found significant differences in otter activity patterns, with populations either being nocturnal, mostly nocturnal or cathemeral. As all study areas experience little human disturbance, our results suggest that there are large natural variations in otter densities and activity patterns between regions. When densities are converted to metrics that are comparable to previous studies, our estimates suggest that African clawless otter population numbers are generally lower than previously reported. This highlights a need for broader spatial coverage of otter population assessments and future studies to assess potential environmental drivers of spatial, and potentially temporal, variation in population numbers and activity patterns.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonists (RAs) mimic naturally occurring GLP-1 and GIP and are highly effective anti-diabetic and anti-obesity agents. In addition to their robust acute and long-term effects on weight, metabolism, and blood pressure, these agents also reduce cardiovascular mortality as well as stroke risk and associated consequences. A replicated and convergent body of preclinical evidence also indicates that incretin receptor agonists activate molecular effectors critical to neuroplasticity, neuroprotection, and anti-apoptosis. Herein, we propose that GLP-1 RAs and GIP RAs are promising transdiagnostic mechanistically informed therapeutics in the treatment and prevention of multiple domains of psychopathology, including general cognitive, reward, and motivation systems and mental disorders. Major neurocognitive disorders (eg, Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease), alcohol and substance use disorders, traumatic brain injury, and depressive disorders are near-term therapeutic targets. In addition, GLP-1 RAs and GIP RAs have robust effects on comorbidities that differentially affect persons with mental disorders (eg, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and metabolic disorders) and psychotropic drug-related weight gain.

Birds are often used as ecological indicators because they are widely distributed across diverse habitats and display distinct behavioural responses to environmental changes. The Endangered Grey Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum is regarded as a flagship species of Africa’s wetland and grassland habitats, both of which are undergoing substantial transformation to alternative land uses. The delayed reproductive strategies and habitat specialisation of this crane species makes them more vulnerable to extinction, but this risk is further compounded by data paucity. We employed traditional and contemporary survey methods to collect breeding metrics to calculate stage transition probabilities (i.e. egg–hatchling, hatchling–juvenile) and to identify possible macro-environmental factors that either promote or hinder their reproductive output in a key agricultural area in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. We found that Grey Crowned Cranes have a low hatching rate of 38.4% (95% confidence interval 29.3–48.4%) and show that this low hatching rate is exacerbated under high rainfall intensity. Multivariate analyses and multi-model inference revealed that successful nest-sites were generally associated with larger open water-bodies, greater distances from shore, and increased proximity to secondary roads, buildings, and natural grasslands. Although increased agricultural activities might promote greater foraging opportunities, the overall breeding outcomes of this species were poor in this key agricultural region. Our findings stress the urgent need for further fine-scale data collection and monitoring activities to better inform conservation strategies for this species. We also encourage future studies to focus on aspects affecting Grey Crowned Crane breeding in regions where proximity to human activities is inevitable.

Incretin-based treatments, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists (eg liraglutide and semaglutide), have rapidly transformed obesity treatment. The well-documented weight loss effect from these agents is considered to be primarily a result of their actions on food intake, but frequent anecdotal reports from varied sources have suggested that they might also broadly affect consummatory behavior, including alcohol and drugs of abuse, suggesting a potential modulatory effect on reward behavior. Herein, we critically review the extant literature on the behavioral effects of GLP-1R agonists in humans, including their impact on feeding behavior, alcohol/drug intake, and overall reward response. We also consider the physiological and neurobiological underpinnings of GLP-1 actions, with a focus on its distinct central and peripheral roles, as well as its relationships with the broader energy homeostasis network. We conclude with a discussion on the implications of this line of research on how behavior is conceptualized, and the potential future directions for research.